Dictation machine



June 12, 1934- H. A. s. HOWARTH DICTAIION MACHINE Filed Sept. 16. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 12, 1934. H. A18. HOWARTH DICTATION MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttorneg Filed Sept. 16, 1930 e IIHHH e llllll IIHIHIIEHI 3m aento1: Q yea/V Q/ M. g Z a/mum,

June 1934- HA. s. HOWARTH DICTATION MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 16, 1930 Gttorncgs nvcnto %,WrM

. Patented June 12 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DICTATION MACHINE Harry A. S. Howarth, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Kingsbury Machine Works, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware I Application September 16, 1930, Serial No. 482,315

33 Claims. (Cl. 2 74-1 7) This invention relates to phonographs, and f the invention, reference being had to the more particularly to phonographs of the type appended claims for that purpose. employed as dictation machines. Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein One object of this invention is to provide a the same reference characters are employed to machine of the type characterized having its designate corresponding parts in the several 60 parts so arranged as to constitute a relatively figures: flat unit that may be readily disposed in a Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desk provided drawer or other analogous compartment that is with a dictation machine embodying the presrelatively shallow. ent invention;

Another object of this invention is to provide Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of a ma- 65 a dictation machine which is so constructed that chine embodying the present invention; it may be readily disposed within a drawer and Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of said mawherein the mouth piece and controlling elechine; and

ments are so disposed as to be conveniently ac- Fig. 4 is a vertical section, on an enlarged cessible to the operator when the drawer is scale and partly broken away, to exemplify one 70 open by a relatively small amount. known mechanism suitable for simultaneously Another object of this invention is to provide moving the feed screw and the recording and a dictation machine having parts movable into reproducing mechanism into their several operand out of a drawer or like compartment and ative and neutral positions with which the presprovided with devices for assuring against inent invention may be associated. Y 75 jury to the parts by a. closing of the drawer Inthe form shown, the dictation machine or other compartment at a time when any of generally designated A in Fig. 1 is disposedin the parts are projecting exteriorly thereof. a drawer B. While the machine has been illus- Another object of this invention is to provide trated as placed in the middle drawer Of a a dictation machine adapted to be disposed' conventional flat t p desk, will be readily pso within a drawer or similar compartment and nrepiated that the machine can W equal a ilhaving a mouth piece movable into and out of ityt be pla d in a d drawer, as C in the drawer and which is so constructed that it can be Placed in 8/ drawer i y other movement of the mouth piece into and out of Suitable yp of desk, in a t b 0 111 feet the drawer automatically determines the operin any enalegeus hp t- 85 ative relationship of some of the parts of the The dlctatlon machme W e may h of a machine. suitable type and construction, is provided with Another object of this invention is to provide a mouth Piece D which is moYeble into fi a t ti machine adapted t be disposed of the drawer and WhlCh by its movement into within a desk or table drawer and which autoand out F drawer Q matically moves its scale and indexing mechscale and Index mechamsm E W1 o anism into operative relation with the top of the top of the desk and may also aut9mat1cauy the. desk or table when the mouth piece is moved operate Pther control and Safety devices as to out of the drawer into operative position. beAexprllamed t f i i Fi S 2 and 3 the g Another object of this invention is to provide S i f 1 f 1 t 16 5 a dictation machine adapted to be disposed withfii f g 2 m: i i j w 1c is moun e i ifis g fi g g g z gf gif g g g type or construction, but preferably an electric constructed that the drawer cannot be closed motord g g g g rtlogstng 12 carrie y sai ase pa e. uppor e in any 100 while the mouth piece is disposed exteriorly suitable Way from said base plate is a mandrel thereof t th 13 adapted to carry any usual or suitable tabgizig gg gi i 3x22 32 W1 appear as let 14. Suitable mechamsm 15 provided for drivin the mandrel from the motor, as a belt 15 The invention is capable of receiving a varipulleys 16 and 17, and 1said driving mech 105 ety of Fnechamcal expreswnsi of i anism also preferably includes a suitable clutch shown in the acee p drawings, but It IS 13 for starting and stopping the mandrel and to be e p y understood that the drawings feed mechanism. A suitable feed screw 19 are for purposes of illustration only and are driven by gearing 20 is provided for feeding the not to be construed as a definition of the limits rectilinearly movable carriage 21 which is 1.10

adapted to slide on a guide rod 22 and carries a suitable feed nut 23 for cooperation with said feed screw. Any usual or suitable sound box 24, providing recording and reproducing mechanism, is mounted on said carriage and may be moved with respect to the carriage so as to bring either the recording or the reproducing mechanism into operative relationship with the tablet 14, said mechanism being also movable into an intermediate or neutral position in which neither of said mechanisms is engaged with the tablet, as well understood in the art. The means for moving the recording and reproducing mechanism into neutral and operative positions is controlled by a button 25 which is also operatively connected by the rod 26 to mechanism of any suitable character for moving the feed nut 23 into and out of engagement with the feed screw 19, said button being disposed at the front of the machine where it is readily accessible. As shown in Fig. 4, rod 26 is connected to an arm 91 projecting from the carriage and by which the position of the feed nut 23 is controlled. Also projecting from the carriage is a second arm 92 connected by linkage 93 to a tubular member 94 which is mounted to reciprocate in the tubular portion 95 of the carriage. with which the sound conduit communicates. Sound box 24 is pivotally mounted in said tubular member 94 at 96, and the sound box neck carries a projection 97 which cooperates with a cam surface 98 on said tubular portion 95, so that the recording and reproducing styli are lifted from the record tablet into a neutral position, simultaneously with the movement of the feed nut out of cooperative engagement with the feed screw, when the sound box is moved into an intermediate position, while the feed nut is engaged with the feed screw when the sound box is moved forwardly or rearwardly into one of its operative positions.

As so far described, the machine may be of any usual or suitable construction, the same having been illustrated more or less diagrammatically because forming no part of the present invention in so far as the details of construction are concerned, and therefore the parts so far referred to are to be taken as typical of the parts of any suitable phonograph or dictation machine.

In accordance with the present invention the parts, so far described are arranged in a compact unit having a relatively low height that is adapted for installation in a desk drawer or analogous compartment. shown, the mandrel 13 is disposed in horizontal alignment with the motor 11 and its housing 12, with the recording and reproducing mechanism and the associated feed mechanism as well as the parts next to be described also substantially in horizontal alignment with said mandrel and therefore so arranged that the whole constitutes a relatively flat unit.

Leading from the recording and reproducing mechanism 24 is a suitable sound transmitting tube 30 which is attached to said mechanism and movable therewith, said tube being telescopically received within a tube 31 carried by brackets 32 from the base plate 10. Communicating with the tube 31 is an elbow. 33 which may rotate with respect to the tube 31, or the tubes 31 and 33 may be connected to rotate together with respect to the brackets 32 and tube 30, so long as the elbow 33 is capable of oscillating about a horizontal axis determined. by the axis of the tube 31. Swiveled on the end of the elbow 33 is a second elbow 34 which may move with respect to said elbow 33 about an axis in a plane disposed at right angles to the axis of movement of elbow 33. In order to give the elbow 34 suitable rigidity a bracket 35 is preferably secured to the elbow 33 and carries a pivot pin 36 which engages a lug 37 on the elbow 34, the axis of the pivot pin 36 coinciding with the axis of the communicating ends of the elbows 33 and 34. Hence the elbow 34 may be oscillated about an axis disposed at right angles to the axis of movement of the elbow 33, and therefore the outer endof said elbow 34 by reason of its capacity for movement about the two right angularly disposed axes is capable of universal motion.

Attached to the outer end of the elbow 34 is a tube 38 leading to a mouth piece 39, which may be of any suitable type and construction. Tube 38 may be rigid, or as hereinafter pointed out more in detail, it may be flexible; if rigid, it may be made in one piece or it may be composed of telescopic sections as hereinafter referred to. It will therefore be perceived that by reason of the universal mounting afforded for the inner end of the tube 38, the mouth piece 39 may be moved into and out of the drawer B, and when moved out of the drawer it may be moved toward and away from the operator, so that the mouth piece 39 is capable of universal adjustment both as respects height and forward and rearward movement to suit the position and convenience of the dictator.

In accordance with the present invention the movement of the mouth piece into and out of the drawer operates automatically some of the controlling and indicating mechanisms of the dictation machine, and also certain safety devices, as next to be explained.

Mounted on a rod 40, extending lengthwise across the front of the machine and rotatably carried by suitable brackets 41 extending upwardly from the base plate 10, is a lever 42 having a bifurcated outer end 43, said latter end providing a slot which is adapted to receive the tube 38 and said lever and slot being so disposed that when the tube 33 is moved downwardly into horizontal position from the position shown in Fig. 2, said tube will engage the lower of the bifurcations 43 and rotate the lever 42 about its axis 40 into a substantially horizontal position in which the tube is embraced by the bifurcations 43, andconversely when the tube is moved vertically the lever 42 will be moved around its axis 40 from a substantially horizontal position to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the tube 38 becomes free of said lever and may thereafter be moved independently thereof.

Mounted on brackets 45 extending upwardly from the base plate 10 is a rotatable rod 46 disposed rearwardly of and above the rod 40, as shown in Fig. 2. Said rod may be square or round in cross section, and suitably attached thereto adjacent the brackets 45 are the hubs 4'7 of a pair of arms 48 which carry the scale 49. Slidably mounted on said rod 46 is a spool 50 on which is mounted for rotation relative thereto, but for axial movement therewith, a collar 50, the latter being connected to the carriage 21 by a rod 51 so that said spool is caused to move lengthwise of the rod 46 by movement of the carriage as the recording and reproducing mechanism carried thereby traverses the tablet 14. Said spool carries an arm 52 that terminates in an index device or pointer 53 cooperatively disposed to move along the scale 49 so that the position of the recording and reproducing mechanism with respect to the tablet is always correctly indicated by the position of the pointer 53 with respect to the scale 49. Although the pointer may be so related with respect to the scale as to move therewith around the axis of the rod 46 whenever the scale is moved into operative position as hereinafter explained, the spool 50 is preferably moved positively with said rod, said rod, if square, engaging a square opening in the spool 50, or if round, being keyed to 'said spool, so that while the spool may be moved lengthwise of the rod by the rigidity of the connection between collar 50 and rod 51 to cause the pointer 53 to correctly indicate on the scale 49 the position of therecording and reproducing mechanism with respect to the tablet, said spool and pointer must partake of the rotary movement of the rod 46 simultaneously with the scale 49 Suitably attached to the rod 46 is an arm 54 to which is pivoted at 55 one end of a link 56 which, at its opposite end, is pivoted at 57 to the end 58 of the lever 42. When the tube 38 is disposed within the drawer and the lever 42 is disposed horizontally as heretofore described, the rod 46 has been turned through the link 56 so that the scale 49 and pointer 53 are depending within the drawer, bu when the tube 38 is moved upwardly to the osition shown in Fig. 2, lever 42 is rotated in a 0100 'se direction around its axis 40, and through link 56 the rod 46 is rotated so as to move the arms 48 and 52 upwardly and locate the scale 49 and pointer 52 over the top surface 59 of the desk as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

.With the parts disposed as illustrated in Fig. 2, any movement of the drawer toward closed position would result in a breakage of the scale and pointer mechanism, and if carried far enough, in an injury to the tube 38, and therefore a drawer stop is automatically brought into operation when the tube 38 is moved-outwardly and the scale and pointer mechanism are\ moved into therelative position shown in Fig. 2. ,Suitably attached to the top of the desk adjacent either side of the drawer B is a-pair of stop lugs 60, which may take the form of blocks of any suitable material attached to the top of the deskas by screws 61. Rotatably mounted in brackets 62 on the base plate 10 is a rod 63 which, at each end thereof, has attached thereto a radially and laterally'extending stop arm 64 adapted to be moved into the path of a stop lug 60, or rotated out of horizontal alignment therewith, by rotation of the rod 63. Rod 63 carries an arm 64' which is pivotally attached at 65 to a link 66 that, at its opposite end, is pivoted at 67 to an arm 68 extending from the rod 40. Therefore, when the rod 40 is rotated by the bifurcated lever .42 when the mouth piece is moved out of the drawer, the arm 68 on said rod operates the link 66 and arm 64' to rotate the rod 63 and swing the stop arms 64 into horizontal alignment with the stop lugs 60, so that the drawer cannot be closed inwardly to such a position as to injure the scale and pointer mechanism or tube 38. Conversely, when the tube '38 is moved into the drawer, the tube 40 is rotated in the opposite direction to rotate the rod 63 in the opposite direction and thereby move the stop arms 64,.out of horizontal alignment with the stop lugs 60.

Movement of the lever 42 may also be utilized for moving into cooperative relationship some of the controlling elements of the' dictation chine. For example, in the form shown, th

motor 12 is plgovided with a switch diagrammatically indicated at 70 and the rod 63 has attached thereto an arm 71 that is suitably connected to the operating element of the switch, so that the electric motor may be started and stopped by moving the mouthpiece out of and into the drawer in the manner heretofore described. This manner of control may also be extended to other parts of the machine if desired. For starting and stopping the machine during dictation, any usual or suitable connection may be made to a press button or control lever 75 carried on the tube 38 for hand operation, or connection may be made to a foot control device 76 as shown in Fig. 1 so that the control of the machine may be rendered entirely independent of the hands, or both controls may be provided if desired, these controls acting directly on the motor or on the clutch 18 in the usual or any suitable way.

' In view of the capacity of the mouth piece 39 to be moved about the horizontal axis of the tube 31, means are provided to assure that the elbow 33 is rotated into its lowermost position when the mouthpiece 39 and tube 38 are moved into the drawer. carried by the elbow 34 and is designed to cooperate with the lug 81 carried by the front of the drawer. If desired, cam plate 80 may be rotatably mounted on pivot pin 36 and lug 81 may take the form of a roller, as shown. Cam plate 80 is so shaped that as long as the mouth piece is out of the drawer the cam plate 80 is out of engagement with the lug 81, and there is no restriction to the universal movement of the mouth piece. But before the mouth piece 39 can be disposed entirely within the drawer the cam plate 80 engages the lug 81, and if the elbow 33 is not in its lowermost position the elbows 33 and 34 are depressed by the engagement of the plate 80 with the lug 81 as the mouthpiece is moved into the drawer, so that the elbows 33 and 34 are automatically disposed in their lowermost position. Conversely, until cam plate 80 is moved out of engagement. with cam pin 81, mouthpiece 39 can be moved only out of the drawer, i. e. about the axis of the pivot pin 36.

It is desirable that the recording and reproducing mechanism and the associated feed mechanism be disposed in their neutral position when the drawer is closed, but this is not essential in all cases. If preferred, the top of the desk may be provided with a lug 82 in the path of the button 25 so that if said button is in its inner or recording position it will be moved to its intermediate or neutral position by the closure of the cally disposing the button 25 in its intermediate or neutral position, it is preferable that the parts be so arranged that the button 25 in its forward or reproducing position will not interfere with the movement of the mouth piece 39 into its lowermost position in the drawer unless care is taken that the drawer stops cannot be rendered of the mouth piece.

When the mouth piece 39 is within the drawer all parts of the machine are compactly arranged in a relatively shallow compact unit which by reason of the horizontal relationship of the parts is such that the entire machine may be readily disposed within a conventional drawer of a desk or in an analogous compartment. When it is desired to use the machine, it is only necessary to open the drawer a few inches sufiiciently to enable the mouth piece 39 to be moved outwardly, which will also give access to the button 25. Outward movement of the mouth piece causes the tube 38 to move about the horizontal axis defined by the pivot pin 36, swinging the bifurcated lever 42 in a clockwise direction around its axis 40. Rotation of said rod 40 swings the scale and pointer mechanism 49, 52 outwardly into operative relation with the top of the desk, as shown in Fig. 2, and simultaneo'usly the rod 63 is rotated to dispose the drawer stops so that the drawer cannot be closed to a position to injure any of the parts. Also the automatic switch 71 is actuated to start the motor in operation.

The mouth piece 39 can be moved into such a position that it is most convenient to the mouth of the operator, and the machine may be controlled by either the manual device 75 or the foot device 76. If the latter control is used, both hands are entirely free for handling such papers as the dictator may desire. As the mouth piece and scale and pointer mechanisms are the only parts of the dictation machine projecting above the top of the desk, any papers being used by the dictator may be placed directly in front of him on top of the desk in the same manner as if no dictation machine were in use. Moreover, the disposition of the scale and pointer permits a letter to which a reply is being dictated to be placed with its lower edge against the usual bottom stop on the edge of the scale and its lateral edge against the usual lateral stop on the scale, so that by cooperation with the scale and pointer the bottom edge of the letter may be used as a notation or correction sheet for indicating the beginning and end of the dictation which relates to that particular letter and also indicating and corrections or other notations concerning the dictation pertaining to the letter. Hence by a suitable notation on the letter the identification of a dictated reply thereto and all notations pertaining thereto can be readily made. As the pointer is not moved with respect to the scale by movement of the scale and pointer into and out of the drawer, the pointer will always properly desighate the end of any preceding dictation whenever the dictation machine is brought into use. When the dictation has been finished the mouth piece 39 may be merely turned down into the drawer. This automatically moves the scale and pointer into the drawer, withdraws the drawer stops from their operative position, and opens the switch of the motor, so that the machine is placed entirely out of operation, and out of the way by closure of .the drawer.

It will therefore be perceived that a dictation machine has been provided which is of such construction that it can be readily disposed within a drawer, and whereby movement of the mouth piece into operative position automatically disposes the scale and pointer mechanism with respect to the top of the desk, brings into operation the necessary safety features and puts the machine in condition for operation. At the same time the mouth piece-is so mounted that it can be disposed at any suitable position for the convenience of the operator and retained in such position while leaving the operator's hands free for handling papers or the like. Moreover, the top of the desk is substantially free so that the dictator while retaining his usual position at the desk may have the entire desk top available for papers and yet the dictation machine is directly infront of him. Also the papers in use in dictating may be used as the notation, correction and identification sheets for the dictation. All of the usual controls of the dictation machine are also conveniently disposed so that they are accessible and subject to the usual operation without the dictator moving his position.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawings has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto as the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions. For example, the tube 38 may, if desired, be formed as a plurality of telescopically related sections so that said tube may be extended or contracted to suit the convenience of the operator, or, if it is desired to reduce the distance of travel of the sound waves to a minimum, said tube may be made of a well known form of flexible tubing and suitable means provided to support the mouthpiece and to cooperate with bifurcated lever 42 in the same manner as tube 38. Also, it is within the contemplation of the present invention that the recording and reproducing of the spoken words may be done electrically instead of by sound waves alone as in the embodiment illustrated. Various other changes which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts, and some features used without other features, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a mouth piece connected with said recording mechanism and adapted to receive the sound to be recorded on said tablet, means housed within the drawer for mounting said mouthpiece for vertical movement into and out of said drawer and for movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of said vertical movement, and means positively actuated by the vertical movement of said mouth piece for rendering said machine operative and inoperative.

2. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism also being mounted for movement into and out of the drawer, and means operated by movement of the mouth piece into and out of the drawer for moving the scale and pointer mechanism into and out of the drawer.

3, In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism mounted for vertical movement into and out of the drawer and for movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of said vertical movement, a switch for controlling said mechanism and means positively operated by the vertical movement of said mouth piece into and out of the drawer for opening and closing said switch. a

4. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, and means operated by the movement of said mouth piece out of the drawer for preventing closure of the drawer while the mouth piece is projecting exteriorly thereof. a

5. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, scale and painter mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism also being mounted for movement into and out of the drawer, means operated by the movement of the mouth piece for moving said scale and pointer mechanism into and out of the drawer, and stop mechanism operatively disposed by the movement of the mouth piece out of the drawer for preventing closure of the drawer while the scale and pointer mechanism are projecting exteriorly thereof.

6. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanismmovable into and out of the drawer,

means supporting said mouth piece and movable about angularly related axes so that said mouth piece may be universally adjusted to suit the position of the dictator, and members on said supporting means and the drawer in engagement when said mouth piece is disposed in said drawer for preventing movement of said mouth piece about one of said axes.

'7. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into andout of the drawer, means supporting said mouthpiece and movable about angularly related axes so that said mouth piece may be universally adjusted, and means operated by the movement of the mouth piece into the drawer and cooperating with said supporting means for moving said supporting means into such position that all parts thereof are disposed within the drawer.

8. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being mounted for movement into and out of the drawer, and means for preventing closure of the drawer while said scale and pointer mechanism are projecting therefrom.

9. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a sound conveying tube between said mouth piece and recording mechanism and means sep-' arate from .said sound conveying tube for preventing closure of the drawer while said mouth piece is projecting therefrom.

10. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a desk drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, and means operated by movement of said mouth piece out of the drawer for disposing said scale and pointer mechanism adjacent the top of the desk. V, 11. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, auxiliary devices operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating to the dictator the operative position of said mechanism, said auxiliary devices being disposed in inoperative position when said mouth piece is posi tioned within the drawer; and means automatically operated by the movement of said mouth piece for moving said auxiliary devices into operative relationship.

12. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a mouth piece connected with said recording mechanism and adapted to receive the sounds to be recorded on said tablet, means housed within the drawer for mounting said mouth piece for vertical movement into and out of said drawer, means for controlling the sound recording operation of said mechanism, and means positively operated by the movement of the mouth piece into and out of the drawer for automatically operating said controlling means.

13. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet; a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a lever operated by the movement of said mouth piece, and means operated by said lever for preventing closure of the drawer while said mouth piece projects exteriorly thereof.

14. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a mouth piece connected with said recording mechanism and adapted to receive the sounds to be recorded on said tablet, means housed within the drawer for mounting saidlmouthpiece for vertical movement into and out of said drawer, a lever positively operated by the movement of said mouthpiece into and out of said drawer, and means operated by said lever for automatically controlling the operative condition of said sound recording mechanism.

15. In a dictation machine arranged to be ing mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a lever operated by the movement of said mouth piece, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism also mounted for movement into and out of the drawer, and connections between said lever and scale and pointer mechanism whereby said mechanism moves into and out of the drawer with the mouth piece.

16. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a lever operated by a portion of the movement of the mouth piece with respect to the drawer, means supporting the mouth piece and permitting universal movement thereof in dependently of said lever after said mouth piece has been moved out of the drawer, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, and means for moving said scale and pointer mechanism into and out of the drawer when said lever is operated by the movement of said mouth piece.

17. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a lever operated by a portion of the movement of the mouth piece with respect to the drawer, means supporting the mouth piece and mounted to permit universal movement of said mouthpiece independently of said lever after. said mouth piece has been moved out of the drawer, said means normally occupying a substantially horizontal position within said drawer when said mouthpiece is disposed therewithin, but movable out of said position when the mouthpiece is moved out of the drawer, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, means for moving said scale and pointer mechanism into and out of the drawer when said lever is operated by the movement of said mouth piece, and means operated by the movement of the mouth piece into the drawer for restoring said supporting means to said normal position.

18. In a dictation machine adapted to be disposed in a drawer, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment and constituting a relatively shallow unit adapted to be disposed within a drawer, a mouth piece operatively connected to said recording mechanism, and means housed within and adjacent the front edge of said drawer and also in substantially horizontal alignment with said tablet rotating means for supporting said mouthpiece for vertical movement into and out 2 of the drawer and for movement about a second horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of said vertical movement and parallel to the front of the drawer.

19. In a dictation machine adapted to be disposed in a drawer, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment and constituting a relatively shallow unit adapted to be disposed within a drawer, a mouth piece operatively connected to said recording mechanism and movable into and out of the drawer, and scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being movable relatively to said recording mechanism into and out of the drawer with said mouth piece.

20. In a dictation machine adapted to be disposed in a desk drawer, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and .said feed mechanism, all of said elements being disposed in substantially horizontal alignment and constituting a relatively shallow unit adapted to be disposed within a drawer of the desk, and scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being movable into and out of the drawer relatively to said recording mech anism and adapted to assume a cooperative relation with a sheet of paper lying on the top of the desk.

21. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, and scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect ,to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being movable relatively to said recording mechanism about an axis substantially parallel to the face of said drawer and into cooperative relation with the top of the desk when the drawer is open by a relatively small amount.

22. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism, and a sound transmitting tube supporting said mouth piece and having joints providing movement about right angularly related horizontal axes, said joints being disposed adjacent the front edge of the drawer whereby said tube and mouth piece are movable into and out of said drawer when said drawer is open only to an extent substantially equal to the width of said tube and mouthpiece.

23. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a sound receiving mouth piece connected to said recording means and. means housed within and adjacent the front edge of said drawer for supporting said mouthpiece for movement into and out of said drawer about an axis at right angles .to the front of said drawer when said drawer is open only to an extent substantially equal to the width of said tube and mouthpiece whereby said machine and mouthpiece may be positioned for use by a dictator occupying a normal position at the desk and without restriction of the top surface of the desk.

24. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting arelatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, devices for controlling the sound'recording operation of said machine disposed to be accessible when the drawer is open by a relatively small amount, a sound receiving mouth piece connected to said recording mechanism, means housed within and adjacent the front edge of said drawer for supporting said mouthpiece for movement into and out of the drawer when the drawer is open by a relatively small amount, and means operated by the movement of said mouthpiece into and out of said drawer for automatically changing the position of certain of said controlling devices.

25. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all

of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being movable into cooperative relation with the top of the desk when the drawer is open by a relatively small amount, a sound receiving mouth piece for said recording mechanism movable into and out of the drawer when the drawer is open by a relatively small amount, and connections between said scale and pointer mechanism and said mouth piece whereby they move into and out of the drawer together.

26. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive saidtablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a sound receiving mouth piece connected to said recording mechanism, a sound transrnitting tube supporting said mouthpiece and connected to said recording mechanism at a point within and adjacent the front edge of the drawer, said connection permitting movement of said tube and mouthpiece into and out of the drawer when the drawer is open only to an with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a scale and pointer mechanism operatively connected with said' recording mechanism for indicating the position thereof with respect to said tablet, said scale and pointer mechanism being movable relatively to said recording mechanism into and out of said drawer, and means for preventing closure of said drawer while said mechanism is projecting exteriorly therefrom.

28. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow unit, a movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a sound receiving mouth piece movable into and out of said drawer, a jointed conduit connecting said mouth piece and recording mechanism, means operated by the movement of said mouth piece into said drawer and cooperating with said conduit for disposing said conduit within said drawer, and means for preventing pinching of said conduit-by closure of said drawer while said mouthpiece is projecting exteriorly therefrom. v

29. In a dictation machine, in combination with means for supporting and rotating a tablet, recording mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, a motor adapted to drive said tablet rotating means and said feed mechanism, all of said elements constituting a relatively shallow,

unit, a' movable desk drawer enclosing said machine, a sound receiving mouth piececonnected to said recording'mechanism' and movable into and out of said drawer, stop means adapted to be moved into cooperative relation to prevent closure of the drawer when said mouthpiece is projecting exteriorly therefrom, and mean actuated by the movement of said mouth piece for starting and stopping said motor and for simultaneously moving said stop means into and out of cooperative relation.

30. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet and for reproducing said sound after being recorded, a member movable to three positions and adapted to place said mechanism in recording, neutral and reproducing condition, respectively, and means for automatically moving said member to neutral position from one of said other positions upon closure of the drawer.

31. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tablet and for reproducing said sound after being recorded, a mouthpiece for said recording and reproducing mechanism movable into and out of the drawer, a member movable to three positions and adapted to place said mechanism in recording, neutral and reproducing condition, respectively, and means for automatically moving said member to neutral position from one of said other positions upon movement of the mouthpiece into the drawer. F

32. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in, combination with mechanism for recording sound on a tab let and for reproducing said sound after being recorded, a member movable to two positions and adapted to place said mechanism in recording and neutral condition, respectively, and means for automatically moving said member from recording to neutral position upon movement of the drawer to closed position.

33. In a dictation machine arranged to be disposed within a drawer and in combination with mechanism for recording sound upon a 

